In the aftermath of the #SaveGhanaFootball demonstration, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has called for calm, assuring Ghanaians that measures are being implemented to address concerns raised during the protest.
The announcement came as Hon. Ussif presented the Ministry’s report on the Black Stars’ participation in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to Parliament on February 14, 2024.
The demonstration, held earlier in the day, saw football enthusiasts, stakeholders, and concerned citizens marching through the streets. They were demanding government intervention to rectify the decline in Ghanaian football, particularly following the Black Stars’ disappointing AFCON performance.
Accusations had also been made against the GFA for allegedly favouring individuals in national team appointments.
During the parliamentary session, Hon. Ussif acknowledged the disappointment among Ghanaians and pledged to organize a national dialogue involving all stakeholders.
The aim is to collaboratively devise modern and inclusive strategies for managing the national teams.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports is aware of the disappointment among the Ghanaian populace and therefore intends to instigate measures that would lead to a national dialogue of all stakeholders, to come up with modern and inclusive ways of managing the National Teams,” he stated.
The #SaveGhanaFootball demonstration, orchestrated by sports journalists including Saddick Adams and Patrick Osei-Agyeman, sought to exert pressure on the government, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing Ghanaian football.
As stakeholders eagerly await further details on the proposed national dialogue, football enthusiasts await sustainable reforms to rejuvenate Ghana’s football landscape.